EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’ S MESSAGE Ron Romano- Executive Director
The USTA Hawaii Pacific had an exciting year of growth, enhancements and increases in participation in most programs, activities and events!
The year kicked off with the Royal Lahaina Challenger at the Royal Lahaina Resort on the island of Maui. This is a $ 50,000 men’ s Pro Circuit event run by the Hawaii Pacific Section the second week of the Australian Open in January. In 2016 a $ 50,000 women’ s Challenger will be added to the men’ s Challenger and this will be one of a small number of combined men’ s and women’ s Pro Circuit events in the United States.
The Play to Learn Program is Hawaii Pacific’ s premiere program and it is designed to introduce tennis to youth and adults. Play to Learn is a group tennis instructional program offered at 25 to 30 public park sites throughout the year with participation of approximately 8,000 annually. After 15 years, the Play to Learn Program continues to grow with increases of 6 % in 2015.
In 2015 youth tennis was a high priority for the Hawaii Pacific Section. Junior Team Tennis was steady, but the biggest area of growth was in the area of Play Days and Ten and Under Tennis. We had at least 1 Play Day a week and Ten and Under Junior Team Tennis grew 44 %. As a result, junior entry level tournament participation grew by 57 %.
The Hawaii Pacific Section ran a junior National Selection tournament with participation from some of the top ranked juniors from all over the United States. In 2016 the Section will host 2 junior National Selection tournaments with one in May and one in August.
One of the true highlights for the Section is being awarded the bid for the February 6-7, 2016 Fed Cup, against Poland, to be held in Kona on the Island of Hawaii. There has only been 1 Davis Cup match held in Hawaii in 1992 against Argentina with Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and John McEnroe playing for the USA. This is quite an honor for the Section and the state of Hawaii to host a Fed Cup event.
In November the members voted in a new Board of Directors with President Kevin Inn, Vice President Walter Wong, Delegate Russell Lum, Secretary Donna Ede and Treasurer Shari Fujita.
Lastly, the Section created its own foundation called the Hawaii Youth Tennis Foundation. This 501 C 3 non-profit organization will raise money to promote and develop the growth of tennis in the Hawaii Pacific Section.
The USTA Hawaii Pacific Section is passionate in its commitment to promote and develop the growth of tennis!
STAFF
Madeleine Dreith Director of Community Tennis & Tennis Service Representative
Ryan Trujillo Director of Marketing & Communications
Eduard Merc Director of Adult Tennis
Kim Kinberg Director of Schools Tennis
Jony Conching Office Manager
Fay Sakamoto Community Tennis Coordinator
Mimi Kennell Director of Junior Tennis
Hawaii Pacific Yearbook 2016 3